Garrett: Why I give to United Way
As part of this great community in Sumner County, we as individuals – and collectively as an organization – share a responsibility for the future of our society. By exercising compassion for our neighbors we will build a foundation for prosperity while, hopefully, inspiring someone else to stand up and make a difference.
This is why I give to the United Way of Sumner County. Their work brings people and community resources together to address the most pressing issues our community faces today. Through partnerships with both the public and private sectors, United Way of Sumner County is targeting the root causes of social issues to effect real and lasting change. Its goal is to build people and our community up.
When I think about my family’s charitable giving, I want our charitable dollars to make the most impact. Did you know there are over 1,500,000 charities across the United States? There are thousands of charities in Tennessee. Hundreds, no doubt, right here in Sumner County. How do you begin to research the what, how and whom these charities serve? It can be a daunting task. How do you really know what a particular charity accomplishes, its goals or how they are producing outcomes for this community? United Way of Sumner County does this research for you.
In 2014, the largest source of charitable giving in the USA came from individuals at $258.51 billion. For the same year, the majority of charitable dollars went to religious organizations (32 percent), education (15 percent), human services and grant making foundations (12 percent), and health (8 percent). This leaves roughly 33 percent of all charitable giving going toward other causes. The challenges we face as a community are significant. Even with all this giving across America, here in Sumner County, we have children who are hungry and only get a meal at their school. We have citizens who have no health insurance and cannot see a doctor for check-ups and routine visits. The needs of the less fortunate are real, and you can help.
The United Way of Sumner County partners with charities across Sumner County. I knew nothing about the United Way until I volunteered on an allocation committee. In that particular year, our allocation committee had just over $250,000 to distribute to our funded partners. We listened to 8 or 9 charities as they gave their presentations to the committee as to why they needed the funds and how they would be used. Quite frankly, I was shocked and saddened. I never realized the extent of the needs of the less fortunate right here at home. At the end of the allocation meeting, I was hooked. I was hooked because 99% of the money raised through the United Way of Sumner County goes to the agencies here at home. Even though I had not been involved in the Campaign that raised the funds we just allocated, I was overwhelmed with the joy that I helped, a little, with our funded partners’ goals.
Shortly after our allocation meeting, I wanted to be “all in” at the United Way of Sumner County. Now, I have been elected by my peers to lead the organization towards a goal of $1 million for the 2015 Campaign. Our hope is to fully fund the requests we receive by allocating as many dollars as we are asked to provide. I believe strongly in our commitment to our community, and I hope you will also get involved in our mission to make a difference here in Sumner County.
If you have an interest and would like to attend an upcoming event, please go to our website or contact Dana Given, our President/CEO, with any questions. We stand ready to serve. Remember you can give, you can advocate and you can volunteer.
Johnny Garrett serves as chairman of United Way of Sumner County's Board of Directors. For more information about the United Way of Sumner County, visit www.unitedwaysumner.org or call 615-461-8371.